My head drops back onto my pillow as I release a frustrated breath. “This wasn’t how I saw this morning going.” I feel Madison’s body relax against me.
“Argh! Will this holiday ever stop throwing me into uniquely awkward naked situations?” she complains, but I can hear the laughter in her voice.
I can’t help chuckling. “From my perspective, I’ve enjoyed your awkward nakedness. And if I had my way, I’d keep you naked right here … But I guess that would just give our friends another excuse to barge in.”
Her elbow shoots backward with a jab to my stomach. “Oomph … Hey I’m trying to be supportive, and that’s the thanks I get.” I flip her onto her back, which is easily done when I’m twice her size.
She giggles softly, then wiggles beneath me to free an arm and strokes her hand across my chest. The warmth from her touch brings a smile to my lips. “So … how much time do you think we have before they come knocking again?” she asks.
Her stroking hand turns into a soft, tickly touch as she edges lower. “Enough time for what you seem to have in mind.”
“Good,” she says with a light kiss on my shoulder, her trailing fingers reaching her goal and wrapping around my wide-awake cock in a tight grip that has a low groan tumbling from me.
Madison’s touch is like fuel on an already burning fire—explosive.
Chapter 16
Madison
Howembarrassing!Together,wewalk into the living room, side by side, and all conversation stops. All sets of eyes on us, smiling. I straighten my shoulders, my head held high. My friends know Jarrod and I slept together last night, so there is no use pretending otherwise.
Thankfully Cassie comes to my rescue, grabbing me in a hug as she says, “Merry Christmas.” Then whispering to me, “And I promise not to ask whatyougot for Christmas.”
Beside me, Jarrod shuffles his feet and, head down, coughs into his hand. My cheeks heat again as she releases me from the hug.
Luke steps up next for a hug, a grin stretching across his face. “Yeah, I didn’t think we were allowed to open presents before breakfast.” I pinch him on his side and take pleasure in his yelp. Cassie and Luke are supposed to be my oldest friends, not my tormentors.
I stare daggers at him as I say, “Merry Christmas to you too, Luke.” And all he does is laugh as I jut out my hip and place my hand on it. It’s a warning, but just in case my message isn’t clear, I ask, “Are you two finished?”
A look passes between my friends, and Cassie shakes her head.
“Nah! Probably not,” says Luke before shrugging and wandering off.
Jarrod takes a step closer to me, throwing an arm protectively around my shoulders, and leans down to drop a sweet, soft kiss on my forehead. I peer up at him through my eyelashes, and suddenly, I don’t care anymore what new taunts my friends have in store for us. It’s all worth it.
“Let’s get some breakfast,” he says, and keeping me tucked close to him, he walks me over to the table where the others are already taking their seats, still watching our every move.
Together we share what I’m thinking is the best ever Christmas morning breakfast. A huge stack of sweet, buttery pancakes with maple syrup and bacon and then, not thinking it could get any better, it did. Gooey cinnamon rolls that were so tasty with the sweetest glaze, it left me literally licking my fingers. I run my tongue over my bottom lip one more time to make sure I didn’t miss any, and Jarrod leans down to whisper in a low, growly voice. “Could you please stop licking your lips like that? It’s driving me crazy. And I won’t be able to leave the table without everyone else realizing exactly how much I like it.”
“Oops … Sorry,” I tell him, even though I’m not really sorry. I like knowing how much he wants me.
“You’re forgiven. If you promise to do some of the things my mind is imagining.” I like the sound of that. As I know from last night’s experience, Jarrod has quite the imagination.
Lydia interrupts our private conversation with an offer to top up our mugs of coffee. And to go with my coffee, I take another cinnamon roll from the tray. If you can’t have two cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, then when can you?
I glance up and catch Jarrod looking longingly at my plate. Blake and Luke have just snatched the last two rolls.
“Do you want to go halves?” I ask, and his eyes light up. For someone who claims to not like Christmas, he sure likes the festive treats.
“Really, you’d share your last cinnamon roll with me?” he asks, his eyebrows rising dramatically, and this time, I can’t hold back a laugh. I cut the roll in half and place his share on his empty plate.
With our stomachs full, we gather around the Christmas tree, which today seems to shine even brighter. The decorated branches twinkling as they catch in the lights, and the additional soft glow of the flickering flames in the fireplace. Eight presents in varying sizes, shapes, and colorful wrapping paper sit prettily under the low-hanging branches. Jasmine jumps up to distribute them.
When everyone has one in their hands, Jas says, “Ready … set … go,” and the ripping of paper begins. There is something about opening presents on Christmas morning that brings out the child in all of us. Within seconds, all of us areoohingandaahingover our gifts. Except Blake. He is still trying to unwrap his present, which, at the start, was the largest parcel, but as he rips into each new layer, the present gets smaller and smaller. We watch on, laughing. It looks like the biggest practical joker is getting his revenge. My guess would be that Jasmine was the one who drew Blake’s name. This has her sense of humor all over it, encouraged, of course, by Scott.
More layers of paper pile up at his feet until the rug is no longer visible and a black velvet box sits dwarfed in the palm of his hand. He pops the lid so only he can see it and looks up, smiling.
“C’mon, man, what is it?” Luke asks, and Blake spins the box around to display a set of cuff links with miniature whiskey glasses on them. It’s perfect. So Blake.
